N.J. Governor Sent Home as Non-Essential

(2006-07-04) — New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine inadvertently sent himself home today, along with the Democrat-dominated legislature, when he ordered non-essential elements of the government shut down during a budget impasse.

Without a new budget, the New Jersey constitution says the state lacks the authority to spend money, so government agencies like the lottery, motor vehicles bureau, parks and recreation department and the state gaming commission were all ordered to shut down, along with the executive and legislative branches of state government.

Gov. Corzine, who forced the budget fight by proposing an increase in the state’s sales tax, had no comment, since his press secretary is also off the job.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for 45,000 idled New Jersey state workers denied that the budget impasse was the cause, calling their idleness “a pre-existing condition.”” — as reported by satirist Scott Ott /ScrappleFace